Donepezil Indication.
For management of symptoms associated with Alzheimer's Disease
Donepezil Contraindications.
Donepezil is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to donepezil hydrochloride or to piperidine derivatives.
Donepezil Prescription.
Donepezil is prescribed to treat dementia (a brain disorder that affects the ability to remember, think clearly, communicate, and perform daily activities and may cause changes in mood and personality) associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD; a brain disease that slowly destroys the memory and the ability to think, learn, communicate and handle daily activities). Donepezil is in a class of prescription called cholinesterase inhibitors. It improves mental function (such as memory, attention, social interaction, reasoning and language abilities, and ability to perform activities of daily living) by increasing the amount of a certain naturally occurring substance in the brain. Donepezil may improve the ability to think and remember or slow the loss of these abilities in people who have AD. However, donepezil will not cure AD or prevent the loss of mental abilities at some time in the future.
Donepezil is a centrally acting reversible acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor. Its main therapeutic use is in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease where it is used to increase cortical acetylcholine. Donepezil is postulated to exert its therapeutic effect by enhancing cholinergic function. This is accomplished by increasing the concentration of acetylcholine through reversible inhibition of its hydrolysis by acetylcholinesterase. If this proposed mechanism of action is correct, donepezil's effect may lessen as the disease process advances and fewer cholinergic neurons remain functionally intact. Donepezil has been tested in other cognitive disorders including Lewy body dementia and Vascular dementia, but it is not currently approved for these indications. Donepezil has also been studied in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment, schizophrenia, attention deficit disorder, post-coronary bypass cognitive impairment, cognitive impairment associated with multiple sclerosis, and Down syndrome.
How should Donepezil be used?
Donepezil comes as a tablet and an orally disintegrating tablet (tablet that dissolves quickly in the mouth) to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day, in the evening at bedtime, with or without food. Take donepezil at around the same time every day.
Donepezil helps control the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease but does not cure it.
Your doctor may start you on a low dose of donepezil and increase your dose after 4-6 weeks.
Donepezil is a centrally acting reversible acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor. Its main therapeutic use is in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease where it is used to increase cortical acetylcholine. It is well absorbed in the gut with an oral bioavailability of 100% and easily crosses the blood-brain barrier. Because it has a half life of about 70 hours, it can be taken once a day. Initial dose is 5 mg per day, which can be increased to 10 mg per day after an adjustment period of at least 4 weeks. Donepezil is a parasympathomimetic, specifically, a reversible cholinesterase inhibitor. Donepezil is postulated to exert its therapeutic effect by enhancing cholinergic function. This is accomplished by increasing the concentration of acetylcholine through reversible inhibition of its hydrolysis by acetylcholinesterase. If this proposed mechanism of action is correct, donepezil's effect may lessen as the disease process advances and fewer cholinergic neurons remain functionally intact. There is no evidence that donepezil alters the course of the underlying dementing process.
To take the orally disintegrating tablet, place the tablet on your tongue. The tablet will quickly dissolve and can be followed with a drink of water.
Donepezil side effects.
- abnormal dreams;
- black or tarry stools;
- bloody vomit;
- changes in behavior;
- chest pain;
- confusion;
- depression;
- diarrhea;
- difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep;
- difficulty urinating or pain when urinating;
- discoloration or bruising of the skin;
- dizziness;
- drowsiness;
- excessive tiredness;
- fainting;
- fever;
- frequent urination;
- headache;
- inability to control urination;
- joint pain, swelling, or stiffness;
- loss of appetite;
- lower back pain;
- muscle cramps;
- nausea;
- nervousness;
- pain;
- red blood in stools;
- red, scaling, itchy skin;
- seizures;
- slow heartbeat;
- vomiting;
- vomiting material that looks like coffee grounds;
- weight loss;
